N-HYPPADEC Partners Federal Ministry for Livestock Dev’t on Livestock Chains
By YM Bina
National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (NHYPPADEC) has concluded plans to partner with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to improve livestock production, rural livelihoods and economic opportunities across the commission’s operational states.
The Managing Director of NHYPPADEC, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, made the disclosure when the received Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar on a courtesy visit at the commission’s headquarters in Minna.
He explained that NHYPPADEC currently operates across 10 states and has a mandate to improve the socio-economic well-being of communities affected by hydroelectric power development through infrastructure, livelihood support, agriculture, ecological management, and youth and women empowerment.
Sadiq Yelwa revealed that the commission had already commenced interventions in poultry production, animal husbandry and small-ruminant rearing, as well as training and advocacy for women in agriculture, including alternative feed formulation and value addition.
Yelwa noted that NHYPPADEC was willing to strengthen these interventions through community livestock farms, poultry initiatives, community-based feed formulation centres, pasture and fodder development, farmers’ education and water-related projects.
He proposed the selection of communities across the commission’s 10 member states for pilot livestock development projects in collaboration with the respective state ministries responsible for livestock development.
Yelwa hinted that the partnership would create opportunities for pasture and fodder development, technical support, access to financing, women and youth empowerment, and the development of modern community-based livestock enterprises.
He expressed confidence that stronger collaboration between the two institutions would help make livestock a sustainable source of food, income, employment and economic empowerment for rural communities.
Earlier, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar, described NHYPPADEC as a strategic agency whose interventions in rural communities could complement the Federal Government’s efforts to transform Nigeria’s livestock sector into a modern, profitable, sustainable and globally competitive industry.
He said livestock remains central to the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians, stressing that the ministry would require strong partnerships with institutions operating at the grassroots to achieve its objectives.
The minister said the ministry was working with state governments to establish livestock development centres, where suitable land would be provided and specific livestock value chains developed through partnerships involving the federal and state governments as well as the private sector.
According to him, NHYPPADEC’s interventions in water provision, youth and women empowerment, infrastructure and livelihood support provide opportunities for collaboration in livestock production, water access, pasture development, capacity building and economic empowerment.
Mukhtar proposed the establishment of a joint committee comprising representatives of both institutions to identify areas of common interest and develop a framework, potentially through a Memorandum of Understanding, to guide the partnership.
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